Signaling device



C H. BOARDMAN.

SIGNALING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 9. 1915.

1,304,936. Patented May 27, 1919.

CHARLES BOARDMAIN, 0F VIVIAN, WEST VIRGINIA.

SIGNALING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 27, 1919.

Application filed April 9, 1915. Serial No. 20,653.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. BOARD- MAN, of Vivian, in the county of McDowell and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Signaling Devices, of Which t e following is a specification.

This invention is an improved signaling device for use in connection wlth ventilating systems of mines or other inclosed spaces, that are ventilated by forcing currents. of air through the galleries or chambers in which a continuous supply of pure air must be maintained.

It is the usual practice to ventilate mines, in which noxious gases are generated, by forcing a current of pure air through the galleries or chambers thereof, by means of a fan, or other air forcing apparatus. Should the ventilating current be interrupted, as for instance, by the stopping of the fan, a dangerous situation is likely to be brought about owing to the fact that the stopping of the fan necessarily stops the current: of air, and if generation of gas continues, an accumulation is liable to be formed with the accompanying danger of an explosion. The object of the present invention is to provide means for establishing signals along the entries and passageways of the mine, and also in the engine house, so that the men in the mine would be warned that the fan had stopped, thereby giving them an opportunity to leave the mine before the danger point is reached, and also to warn the engineer that the fan has stopped, so that immediate repairs can be made.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, the figure is a side elevation illustrating a signaling device constructed in accordance with this invention. v

Referring to the drawing, 10 designates a pipe having one end open to the outside atmosphere, said pipe being passed through the door or brattice 11 into the mine or other chamber to be ventilated, and indicated at 12. The inner end of the pipe 10 is joined with a vertically disposed Ushaped member, comprising an up-take pipe 13, and an in-take ipe 14, united by a suitable elbow 15. Tlie upper free end of the intake member is open to the ventilating pressure within the chamber 12, said pressure being maintained at a somewhat greater pressure than that of the outside atmosphere, by means of a suitable ventilating fan or other air forcing apparatus, not shown.

Attached to the upper free end of pipe 14 is a base 16 formed of suitable insulating material, having an opening concentric with pipe 14, and provided with a binding post 17, which also serves as a means of attachment of a resilient blade 18, forming a movable contact member. The stationary contact member 19 comprises a thumb screw carried in a bracket 20, attached to the base 16 by means of a binding screw 21. Wires 22 extend from the binding screws to lamps 24, conventionally illustrated. In practice these lamps are located along the entries and passageways, and one is also located in the engine room, where the power is supplied to operate the ventilating apparatus. These lights may be of any desired color, but it is preferred that they should be red, so that when the circuit is closed by bringing the contacts 18 and 19 together, all persons'in the mine, as well as in the engine room will be immediately warned that the fan has ceased its operation.

The resiliency of the movable contact 18 is such that it is normally maintained in a position out of engagement with the stationary contact 19, and the distance that the same will have to travel to close the contact, may be nicely adjusted by means of the screw which forms the stationary contact 19. In order to automatically close the circuit, by bringing the contacts together, when the fan has ceased to operate, the U-shaped member is provided with a body of liquid, such as water, and a float 25 is placed in the open end of pipe 14, immediately below the blade 18, said float being in the form of a buoyant ball of a material sufficiently light to be sustained by the liquid body. The open end of pipe 14, being open to the pressure within the chamber 14, the liquid within the U-shaped member is shifted by reason of the pressure, the levels in pipes 13 and 14, when the fan is running being indicated at A, and when the fan is stopped by B. From this it will be seen that while the fan is operating, the pressure created by the same lowers the level of the liquid in member 14, thereby permitting the blade 18 to move away from the contact 19. Should the fan cease to operate, the pressure upon the fluid in pipe 14 is reduced, and the water will rise to the 'level' B in said pipe. As the liquid level rises, the float 25 also rises through the opening in base 16, and pushes the blade 18 into engagement with the contact 19, thereby closing the circuit to the lamps. As soon as the fan is again started, the pressure in chamber 12 will again lower the liquid level in pipe 14, thereby permitting blade 18 to break the circuit to the lamps.

Having thus explained the nature of my invention, and described an operative manner'if constructing and using the same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made, or all of the forms of its use, what I claim is l. A signaling device for ventilating apparatus comprising a pipe having an intake end located within a chamber to be ventilated and open to the ventilating pressure within said chamber, the other end of said pipe being open to atmospheric pressure, a liquid within said pipe, the level of the liquid being affected by the pressure within said chamber, a base of insulating material attached to the intake end of said pipe, and having an opening coinciding with the bore of the pipe, a stationary contact supported by said base, a movable contact also support ed by said base and extending across said opening, a float sustained by said liquid, and

positioned to move through the opening in said base to contact with said movable contact, whereby the contacts are brought to gether when the pressure within said chamber is reduced.

V A, signaling device for ventilating apparatus comprising a pipe having an intake end located within the chamber to berventilated and opened to the ventilating pressure within said chamber, the other end of said 7 bore of the pipe, a stationary contact attached to said base, a spring arm attached .at one end to said base and extending over said intake end, the free end of said spring arm being positioned beneath said stationary contact, and a float sustained by said liquid and positioned to move through the opening in said base to contact with said spring arm, whereby the contacts are brought together by the raising of the float when the pressure within said chamber is reduced. f i V V w In testimonywhereofl have afiixed my siguature,'in presence of two witnesses.

- CHARLES H. BOARDMAN; Witnesses: V v 7 J. MrHUnDL EsTo W. E. SUL'L,

copies of thispatent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the:Gom missioner oflatents,

Washington, D. G. 

